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Two new tools worth testing - Direct Access and XYplorer
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Posted by Dominik Holenstein
Mar 30, 2007 at 09:26 AM
I am testing two new products to improve my productivity:
Direct Access - Shortcut tool:
http://www.nagarsoft.com/
It allows you to type ‘word’ wherever you are (even you don’t have box to write in) and then Word opens. Further, you can use it to open applications, websites (including a search box) or to paste text snippets. It is simpler than ActiveWords but more productive for me.
Don’t buy it now - Bits du jour will have a promo for this tool within the next two weeks!
http://www.bitsdujour.com/
XYplorer - Windows Explorer replacement
Most important feature: It allows you to open folders in tabs and these tabs are preserved when you close and the re-open the app.
Further, you can download a no-install version and run it from your USB drive.
Another interesting feature: You can highlight a branch.
And last but not last: It is useful if you are working with keyboard shortcuts.
Check here:
http://www.xyplorer.com/index.htm
Dominik
Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Mar 31, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Dominik,
Have you tried ActiveWords, a similar product. I’d be interested in your comparative impressions, if you have. There’s another product that has this hyper-modernized command line functionality that may be the best. Again, haven’t tried it, but it is attached to a full-featured macro program as well.
Posted by Dominik Holenstein
Apr 1, 2007 at 06:48 AM
Stephen
I have tested ActiveWords several times but always stopped using it because it needs an additional filed to enter the words to lauch the applications or websites and I always had the feeling that it slows down my pc a bit. It has very powerful macro features and is overall the better tool than Direct Access and has a quite fair pricing ($49.95) and they allow you to install as many instances as you need with just one licence. Further, they provide a 60 day trial period. Perhaps I should give AW another chance an learn the scripting part better to fully use its potential.
The big advantage of Direct Access is its simplicity. You don’t need a field to enter the shortcuts. Even when you have a website open you can type ‘goog’ for example and DA opens a new tab with the google page. Even better, you can add a (very simple) macro that opens a search field where you can enter the search term. When you then click OK a new tab in IE7 is opened and the search results are displayed. Price: $ 39.95
I have to be honest: You get much more for just $10 more to pay when you are buying AW. But only if you are using the scipting/macro features.
You wrote:
“There’s another product that has this hyper-modernized command line functionality that may be the best.”
What product do you mean?
Dominik
Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Apr 1, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Dominik Holenstein wrote:
>“There’s another product that
>has this hyper-modernized command line functionality that may be the best.”
>
>What
>product do you mean?
>
Found it—Perfect Keyboard Pro. There’s a version that’s more sophisticated still, called Advanced Scripting Edition.
http://www.pitrinec.com/pk-editions.htm
Posted by Ike Washington
Apr 1, 2007 at 12:19 PM
I’ve been using both of these for years. Recommend them highly.
Free shortcut tool, floating command line utility for Windows: SlickRun - http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/
Free open source scipting/macro utility for Windows: AutoHotKey - http://www.autohotkey.com/
Ike